Is Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 just another ‘lazy’ addition to the franchise?

The article discusses the ongoing criticism surrounding the Call of Duty franchise, particularly the latest installment, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Despite the series' long-standing success, selling millions of copies with each new release, it has faced industry backlash over alleged issues such as predatory monetization, pay-to-win skins, and in-game bugs. Former Blizzard president and Microsoft executive Mike Ybarra has labeled the franchise as "lazy," stating that EA's upcoming Battlefield 6 will "boot stomp" Call of Duty this year, forcing the team to create "better FPS games." Additionally, the head of Splitgate 2 mocked Call of Duty during a recent presentation, suggesting that the series has become the subject of industry jokes about endless franchises. Despite these criticisms, the article notes that the latest installment, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, offers "obvious bang for your buck," suggesting that it may still provide a compelling experience for players.